AUBURN, Alabama
-- Fans didn't quite like the performance Saturday, but they should like the result.

Auburn (8-3) knocked off Samford 31-7 behind a shaky offensive performance that finally hit full speed late in the first half at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers appear healthy and rested before the biggest game of the year this week against No. 1 Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

Before we move forward, let's look back and determine whether these Tigers have made any steps in the right direction following a disheartening and uninspiring loss at Georgia.

Offense: C+

The story of the game was the first half. Auburn struggled to get anything going in the first 18 minutes, managing only 36 yards on the first four drives. Three of those drives, by the way, covered 3 yards or less. Penalties were an issue again and Sammie Coates dropped one pass.

We finally saw the Auburn of old -- the good Auburn -- late in the second quarter as the Tigers scored 17 points in the span of 6 minutes, 11 seconds. We're not sure why, in the words of Auburn's players, it took that long for them to wake up. We also don't believe that's something fans should be worried about heading into the Iron Bowl. The rivalry game at Alabama should wake them up the moment they step inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

What is concerning is Nick Marshall's decisions on zone-read plays of late and his sudden inability to escape pressure. He finished with minus-8 yards on 11 carries, including three sacks, providing the senior the worst rushing performance of his career -- and in his final game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Auburn's passing game was on point at times, and Marshall finished 11-of-18 passing for 171 yards and one touchdown with one interception, but there is obviously something missing with D'haquille Williams out of action. We expect him to return from knee injury for the Iron Bowl.

Cameron Artis-Payne, meanwhile, put together his eighth 100-yard game of the season with 129 yards. He's now fifth on Auburn's single-season rushing charts with 1,405 yards.

In the end, the 386 yards provided Auburn two of its three worst offensive performance of the season in back-to-back weeks. That can't happen in Tuscaloosa.

Defense: B

It took some time, but the Tigers settled in nicely against the Bulldogs. Interestingly enough, Samford came out hot while Auburn was cold, amassing 139 yards and a touchdown on its first four drives. Five of the next six drives covered seven yards or less, including two drives ending in negative yards, as the Bulldogs picked up only 99 yards after their go-ahead touchdown drive midway through the second quarter and averaged 2.4 yards per play.

Auburn also got a season-high 21 quarterback hurries, but that translated to only two sacks.

The defense was charged with five penalties, including three by cornerback Jonathon Mincy (two pass interference calls and an unsportsmanlike conduct). Gus Malzahn thought reporters were looking at his night "negatively" when asked about the performance.

Mincy picked off a pass a late to contribute to the two turnovers, including an interception by Kris Frost with an assist from cornerback Jonathan Jones on the tipped pass.

Special teams: B-

Quan Bray started the night with a fumbled punt, though Auburn fell on the ball to keep possession. It was his third fumble in two games (including two punt returns), but he bounced back on offense with 101 total yards and one touchdown, a 23-yard run to tie the game early.

Outside of that, it was a ho-hum night for special teams. Corey Grant returned a kickoff 32 yards and Daniel Carlson kicked a 29-yard field goal. Jimmy Hutchinson's 22-yard punt ended his night, and Carlson averaged 44.8 yards on five punts, including two landing inside the 20-yard line. Three of Carlson's six kickoff were touchbacks.

Last week
: Auburn fans weighed in and 66.7 percent of you gave the Tigers an "F" for their 34-7 loss at Georgia.